Woe from mind is Famusov's daughter. Hero of Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" P
P.A.F. is one of the main characters comedy, representative of the serf-owners' camp. F - nobleman, landowner living in Moscow and serving as a manager in a government place. He famous person in the circle of the Moscow nobility. This is evidenced by his surname (fama - from Greek “rumour”). Griboyedov emphasizes that F. is afraid of rumors. When translated from Latin, the surname Famusov means “famous”, “enjoyed by fame”. Apparently, he belongs to representatives of noble noble families. His uncle, Maxim Petrovich, played a huge role at the court of Catherine II. His “home friends” are the princes Tugoukhovsky, the successful “not today and tomorrow general” Skalozub.
F. is a widower, loves his daughter, takes care of her, believes that he has done everything to raise her. He is looking for a suitable groom for Sophia, wants to marry her to the rich Skalozub. F. boasts that he is “known for his monastic behavior,” but flirts with the pretty maid Liza and counts the days when the doctor-widow is due to give birth. He is proud of belonging to the circle of noble Moscow nobles, known for his hospitality and living in grand style.
He is a fan of antiquity, admires morals high society at the court of Catherine II. F. is a supporter of serfdom. Possessing and disposing of serfs at his own discretion seems legal and completely fair to him. He does not see serfs as people, does not take into account their human dignity. He scolds them without mincing words, calls them “donkeys,” “blocks,” “crowbars,” “filks,” regardless of their age. He threatens Liza with being sent to the village: “If you please, go to the hut, march after the birds.” Being a landowner, F., however, lives in the village, on the estate, and not in Moscow and occupies a prominent position in the service. Service for him is only a means to receive awards, ranks and money. He entrusted affairs of service to Molchalin the secretary, who lives in his house and whom he constantly reminds of his good deeds (“... and if it weren’t for me, I would have smoked in Tver...”). Famusov’s official affairs boil down to signing papers prepared by Molchalin. He boasts smugly:
And with me, what matters, what doesn’t matter,
My custom is this:
Signed, off your shoulders.
During the service, Famusov surrounded himself with relatives, considering such care for his relatives worthy of praise. He proudly says that with him “strangers are very rare; more and more sisters, sisters-in-law and children,” only Molchalin is not his own, and therefore “businesslike”:
How are you going to introduce yourself to a small cross, or a small town?
Well, how can you not please your dear little fellow!
The most important thing for a F. official is the ability to deal with superior people, please them in a timely manner and thus curry favor. His ideal in this regard is his uncle Maxim Petrovich, a sycophant of Catherine’s time. Then, as Chatsky put it, “not in war , but in the world they took it with their foreheads, knocked it on the floor, without regret." Maxim Petrovich was an important nobleman, "he ate on gold, rode forever in a train," "when it was necessary to curry favor, and he bent over." In this way he gained weight “promoted him to the ranks” and gave him pensions.” F. also admires Kuzma Petrovich, who was a chamberlain “with a key and knew how to deliver the key to his son, he was rich and was married to a rich woman.” F. strives to imitate such people. Their way of obtaining ranks and considers money to be the most faithful. F. is hospitable in the Moscow way, he willingly receives guests, loves to play cards and gossip. He takes an active part in the development of gossip about Chatsky. He says that he was the first to guess about Chatsky’s madness, believes that Chatsky inherited the disease from mother, who went crazy 8 times. However, F. considers teaching and science to be the main reason for this. He speaks of books with hostility:
"Learning is the plague, learning is the cause,
What is worse now than before,
There are crazy people, deeds, and opinions."
And he ends his thought with a categorical demand:
No! If evil is stopped:
Take all the books and burn them!
F. laughs at the then accepted way in Moscow of raising children in the spirit of French fashion, with French tutors. He grumbles: And all the Kuznetsky Most, and the eternal French, from there the fashion to us, and the authors, and muses: destroyers of pockets and hearts! However, he himself follows this fashion:
"Mother died: I knew how to hire
Madame Rosier is a second mother."
F. calls the teachers who were hired to teach children “in greater numbers, at a cheaper price” “vagabonds.” He believes that the problem is not in the teachers and “not in Madame Sila,” children should be raised in the spirit of imitation of their elders. “They would study at looking at the elders,” he teaches Chatsky. And he instills in his daughter: “You don’t need another example when the example of your father is in your eyes.”
He hates and fears people with a progressive worldview. He disapproves of cousin Skalozub, who “acquired some new rules”: “the rank followed him - he suddenly left the service, went to the village and started reading books. He calls Chatsky a “carbonari,” a dangerous person.” The reasons for his indignation are clear: Chatsky speaks out against that building, those orders that are for F. the basis of all his well-being. The morals and views typical of the 20s of the 19th century are detailed in the image of Famusov, who is the antipode of Chatsky.
The representative of the old nobility, Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov, becomes the character in whose house all the events of the comedy develop.
The image and characterization of Famusov in the comedy “Woe from Wit” help to imagine and understand the ideology of society of that time, the essence of the generational conflict.
Description of Famusov’s appearance and character
Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov is a widower raising his daughter Sophia. The master is proud of his widowhood. The rich man did not tie the knot again because his mother was flighty. Freedom is compared to power. Famusov, “his own master,” does not want to depend on women’s whims. This position does not make him a person who shuns the opposite half. A nobleman flirts with a maid. Words can be heard from the speech that help to imagine how the owner of the house behaves when no one sees him:- squeezes;
- flirts;
- indulges;
- changes facial expressions.
A rich man of age, but looks cheerful and fresh: he shows off his strong physique. Behavioral characteristics also speak about his health:
- fussy;
- quick;
- restless.
Positive traits
Reality is confirmed by nearby negative and positive features personality.Good nature. Pavel Afanasyevich’s attitude towards Chatsky characterizes him positively. After the death of Chatsky’s father, Famusov took him into his house and began to raise him as a son. Only a kind and caring father of the family, a true friend, could do this. This is how he is presented in relation to his daughter and childhood friend. good feelings are also visible in relation to some courtiers, to secretary Molchalin.
Hospitality. Many scenes confirm this quality of Famusov: Chatsky’s arrival, the ball, Skalozub’s arrival. You just need to understand that hospitality in the house is only for the rich. There is no place for the poor and ignorant.
Love for the past. All old people cherish past events in their memory. The owner of the house protects the past and is afraid of criticism. Everything that has passed is his fate. Preserving the past is the task of his generation.
Negative personality traits
Grouchiness. The nobleman, the owner of the house, behaves like a bourgeois. He gets angry to no avail and is often in a mood when he is dissatisfied with everything. He is in a hurry, grumbling and scolding the courtiers. It’s surprising that the man himself knows about this property. But this only gives him a lot of pleasure. It seems that scolding is his normal state.Coarseness. In dealing with those who serve him, the owner of the house does not mince words. Such rudeness was characteristic of all nobles of the conservative part of society. Rudeness and power in in this case synonyms. For Famusov, servants are donkeys, blockheads, lazy grouse. Rudeness disappears when Famusov is surrounded by people of his circle or higher status. There is very poise and modesty here.
Loud intonations. The owner's loudness frightens the residents. You can hear it everywhere. The voice is compared to trumpets. The master does not try to speak quietly. His position: I am the owner and have the right to shout.
Crazy. A father can do such things that he is called crazy. Famusov is a true representative of the ruling part. Choosing expressions and changing behavior is not in his rules.
Flattery. Pavel Afanasyevich flatters and is ready to please those from whom benefit is possible. Several scenes of his conversation with Colonel Skalozub provide a clear example of this behavior: changes in posture, speech and manner of speaking.
False entrepreneurship. In Famusov’s time, this quality was called differently - a businessman. Any means are good to achieve your goals. He will do everything that will help him achieve the desired rank and reward.
Life patterns and ideological principles
Famusov serves as a manager in a state government institution, like most Moscow nobles. Arranges for the service of relatives, close and distant. Gives them awards, promotes them career ladder. Family ties are above all else for him. He is “pleased” in front of his relatives, realizing that the status of the entire family depends on him. Wealth and title explain Pavel Afanasyevich’s desire to find a rich husband for his daughter. It is desirable that the groom be noble, have awards and strive for promotion.Famusov is a member of a club considered prestigious for the elite of the Moscow nobility. The English Club allowed one to present oneself as politically educated and advanced.
The master worries when events occur that could change attitudes towards him. Afraid of gossip, people's rumors and gossip.
Speech features of the hero
Pavel Afanasyevich speaks pure Russian, confirming that he is a true nobleman. His speech contains many colloquial phrases and expressions: - “no urine”;
- "kill";
- "vegetated";
- "by chance";
- "knock your socks off."
The nobleman’s original speech allows us to believe that Pavel Afanasyevich loves and honors the traditions of his country, the Russian people. Famusov’s speech cannot be called poor. The nobleman speaks clearly, correctly expressing his thoughts. There are no scientific terms in the vocabulary. This means that the master is still limited in education. Therefore, his attitude towards scholarship is understandable. He didn’t need to study, and others don’t either. Learning is a disease comparable to a plague, striking quickly and irrevocably. Books are evil, which is better to destroy, burn, so that not a trace remains. But the father understands that scholarship has taken its place in society, so his daughter, as expected, has teachers. Famusov also knows foreign words, but uses them extremely rarely.
The image of one of Famusov’s characters made it possible to characterize an entire society of nobles. Their conservatism, worship of wealth and rank, evokes a sarcastic smile. The task set by the author has become achievable.
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In the world you rarely find a teaching that promotes violence, lies and deception. For the most part, world dogmas affirm the principles of humanity, peacefulness and decent attitude towards other people, however, real life far from these teachings.
Despite all efforts, deceit and deception prevail in society. This trend is typical for any social groups. However, the realization that the elite of society is also not devoid of these vices of humanity is depressing - I want to believe that there is a certain ideal of society in the world and this is not a utopia.
Famus Society, quite possibly could serve as such ideal model, but this doesn't happen. With the help of Alexander Chatsky's exposure, the reader learns about the vices and negative character traits typical of aristocrats.
The denunciation of the aristocracy occurs through the example of the manager government agency in Moscow Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov. He has neither unique biography, nor his unique character - all his qualities were typical of the aristocracy of that time.
Family life of Famusov
In the story, the reader gets acquainted with an already formed, mature person, both biologically and psychologically.
His exact age is not indicated in the play - at the time of the unfolding of the main events he is a man of considerable age: “At my age, you can’t start squatting on me,” - this is what Famusov himself says about his age.
Family life Pavel Afanasyevich’s life was not cloudless - his wife died, and he remarried a certain “Madame Rosier”. Famusov cannot boast a large number successors of his family - he has one child - daughter Sonya, born from his first wife.
Famusov is not devoid of a sense of compassion - he took in his friend’s son, Alexander Chatsky, to raise him after the boy was orphaned. Alexander retained pleasant impressions of his teacher and, after returning from a long trip abroad, the first thing he did was pay a visit to Pavel Afanasyevich. Sincerely speaking, his respect and gratitude towards Famusov is not the only reason for the visit. Chatsky is in love with Sonya and hopes to marry the girl.
Based on this situation, we can conclude that Pavel Afanasyevich was a good teacher, he knew how to win Alexander over at any age, otherwise Chatsky would not have sought to pay him a visit with such zeal.
However, Famusov’s meeting with Chatsky became a reason for disappointment and quarrel. Alexander begins to analyze the actions and position of his teacher and comes to extremely unsatisfactory results on his part.
Famusov State Service
The reader gets acquainted with Famusov already when he is in the position of manager “in a government place”, about how he received this position, and what his career path Griboyedov does not specify.
It is known that Famusov prefers to see relatives among his fellow employees: “When I have employees, strangers are very rare.”
Pavel Afanasyevich surrounded himself with relatives at work, he loves to please them with a promotion or another award, but he does this for a reason - the concept of selflessness is alien to Famusov.
Personal qualities and habits of Famusov
First of all, selfish motives stand out. He himself is a rich and wealthy man, so when choosing his future son-in-law, he is guided by the prospects for growth, both career and financial young man, because in Famusov’s concept the first is inseparable from the second.
Famusov himself is dependent on ranks; he believes that a person who has the proper rank and many awards is already a priori worthy of respect.
“You, passionate about ranks,” is how Chatsky describes him. In addition to the desire to achieve rank, his son-in-law must also have sufficient financial security. At the same time, Pavel Afanasyevich is not interested in the morality and integrity of the young man.
Based on this position, Alexander Chatsky looks like an extremely unattractive candidate for the husband of Sonya Famusova. He left military service, civil service also does not arouse his interest, of course, Chatsky has a family estate, but this does not evoke reliability and prospects in Famusov’s eyes: “Whoever is poor is not a match for you.”
Stunned by such a verdict, Chatsky still does not lose hope of being reunited with his beloved, but further development conflict forces Chatsky to abandon this idea.
Famusov highly values the achievements of the reign of Catherine II, and considers Maxim Maksimych to be the ideal person, who, thanks to his sycophancy and ability to please, managed to reach heights in his career and was held in high esteem:
On the kurtag he happened to step on his feet;
He fell so hard that he almost hit the back of his head;
They deigned to laugh; what about him?
It suddenly fell in a row - on purpose,
And the laughter is worse, and the third time it’s the same.
A? what do you think? in our opinion, he is smart.
Guided by old principles, Famusov evaluates a person by his condition, and the ability to get what he needs, even through humiliation, becomes a subject of admiration.
Famusov is dismissive of the people who serve him, he experiences a certain amount of relief, scolding and shouting at his serfs. Phrases like “Donkeys! Should I tell you a hundred times?” and “You, Filka, you are a straight block of wood” - a common occurrence in his vocabulary.
By the way, constant dissatisfaction is typical for Pavel Afanasyevich. He is dissatisfied with the servants, dissatisfied with the new time, modern youth, science and cultural figures.
Conflict between Chatsky and Famusov
The images of Chatsky and Famusov expose the “present century” and the “past century.” Famusov adheres to a conservative view and believes that it is necessary to adhere to the orders of bygone times, because the ancestors were wiser than their contemporaries. Famusov compares everything between “was” and “has become”.
It is difficult for him to realize that the time of his ancestors has passed and the demands of society have changed:
At the age of fifteen, teachers will be taught!
And our old people?? - How they will be taken by enthusiasm,
They will condemn deeds, that the word is a sentence, -
After all, the pillars don’t bother anyone;
And sometimes they talk about the government like this,
What if someone overheard them...
In addition to this division, the images of Famusov and Chatsky distinguish between the world of carnal pleasures and the spiritual world. Famusov and people like him are guided in life by the basic needs of the body, without caring about their spiritual and moral development. They embody man as a representative of the animal world.
This comedy), stands Famusov, a representative of the bureaucratic nobility. (See also the article The Image of Famusov.) Griboyedov himself in one of his letters (to Katenin) says that in the person of Famusov he portrayed his uncle, a famous Moscow gentleman. “What kind of aces live and die in Moscow,” says Famusov himself; This is exactly the kind of “ace” he himself portrays. His large, lively figure inspires some sympathy with its liveliness, everyday typicality and integrity; but, listening to his words, delving into the meaning of his speeches, you immediately see his no less large negative traits. Famusov apparently occupies a prominent place on public service, has a great rank. But how does he feel about his position, how does he look at the service in general? His secretary is Molchalin, whom Famusov keeps “because (he) is businesslike”; Molchalin sorts out the cases, brings papers to his boss for a report, but Famusov has one concern:
"I'm afraid, sir, I'm the only one who's dead,
So that a multitude of them do not accumulate;
Give free rein to you - it would settle down,
And with me - what matters, what does not matter,
My custom is this:
Signed, so - off your shoulders».
Famusov, Sofya, Molchalin, Lisa. Illustration by D. Kardovsky for Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”
It is clear that he does not delve into the matter, the solution of which depends on him, but is only in a hurry to sign and get rid of worries. Service for Famusov does not represent the fulfillment of any duties, but is a path and method for achieving personal gain, wealth and fame. In contrast to Chatsky, who believes that one must serve “the cause, not individuals,” Famusov finds that “serving individuals” is necessary in order to achieve nobility. He sets as an example (monologue “That’s it, you are all proud”) his uncle, Maxim Petrovich, who, being already a noble nobleman himself, -
(“It’s not like I ate on silver, I ate on gold;
One hundred people are at your service; all in orders") -
managed to earn the favor of the Empress (Catherine II) with a clownish trick.
“And uncle! What is your prince, what is your count!
Serious look, arrogant disposition!
When you need to help yourself,
And he bent over.”
This is Famusov’s ideal! Adulation is the surest way to achieve rank, and Famusov calls “proud” someone who does not want to follow this beaten path. Not wanting to even listen and think about Chatsky’s heated objections, Famusov sure in his rightness, because the way his fathers thought and “did” was the way it had been since the old days. He speaks quite frankly about these low and ugly practices of the bureaucratic world; he also simply admits that he always tries to place his relatives in advantageous positions, without caring whether they are capable of fulfilling the duties assigned to them:
“How will you imagine
To the little cross or to the town,
Well, how can you not please your loved one.”
Famusov expresses his cynical confessions with naive simplicity.
Woe from the mind. Maly Theater performance, 1977
Famusov’s views on raising children and education in general are noteworthy. He sees nothing good in books:
“Reading is of little use”
he says in response to Lisa’s words that his daughter Sophia “read all night” in French. - “She has no sleep from French books, he continues, “and the Russians make it painful for me to sleep.”
In learning, in books, he sees the cause of all freethinking and disorder:
“Learning is the plague, learning is the reason,
What is worse now than before,
There have been crazy people, deeds and opinions.”
“...if we stop evil,”
Collect all the books and burn them."
However, contrary to this opinion, Famusov hires foreign teachers to Sophia, contemptuously calling them “tramps,” but does this because “everyone” does it, and main principle Famusova - follow general flow. He gives Sophia an education, but does not bother to delve into moral qualities her educators: Madame Rosier, “the second mother, the old lady of gold,” to whom Famusov entrusted the upbringing of his daughter,
“For an extra five hundred rubles a year
She allowed herself to be lured by others.”
What principles could such a teacher teach? Obviously, Famusov, like many other parents secular society, strove for his daughter to recruit “regimental teachers, more in number, at a cheaper price.” Personally, he does not praise the general fascination with foreigners:
“Kuznetsky Bridge and the eternal French,
he is indignant
But it is clear that he scolds the French precisely because he considers them “pocket destroyers” and does not see the difference between a “book” and a “biscuit” shop.
Famusov's concerns about his daughter boil down to giving her an outward upbringing in accordance with the generally accepted requirements of society, and marrying her off to the right person; he tries to convince Sophia that he
“Whoever is poor is not a match for her.”
In his eyes, the ideal husband for Sophia is Skalozub, since he is “both a golden bag and aims to be a general.” And the fact that Skalozub is disgusted with his daughter does not bother the “caring” father in the least. What is more important for Famusov: for Sophia to choose a husband after her heart, or for society to say that she made a brilliant match? Of course, the last one! Public opinion, then “what Princess Marya Alekseevna will say,” this is the spring and engine of all Famusov’s words and actions.
And yet this man has, if not positive, then at least partly sympathetic traits. His hospitality, characteristic of all truly Russian natures, is endearing; his house is open:
“The door is open for the invited and the uninvited,
Especially for foreigners;
At least honest man, at least not -
It’s all right for us – dinner is ready for everyone.”
But even in these words (from the monologue “Taste, father, excellent manner”) we see, in addition to hospitality, Famusov’s well-known moral promiscuity: he amuses himself with his hospitality, and the moral qualities of his guests are completely indifferent to him. What is attractive about him is his sincere love for everything that is his own, Russian, Moscow; how he admires Moscow aces, old men, ladies, boys and girls! Famusov’s good nature is also attractive, or rather, the innocence that shines through in all his speeches. Griboyedov portrayed a truly living person, with personal features that distinguish him. “Grumpy, restless, quick,” Sophia characterizes him; He is quick-tempered, but also easy-going - “often angry to no avail,” but also good-natured.
Speaking about Famusov, one cannot help but mention famous artists who played his role. “Woe from Wit” was first staged on stage in 1831 after Griboedov’s death; The wonderful actor Shchepkin was then known in the role of Famusov. In the first half of the twentieth century, this role was played with extraordinary talent by the famous director and founder of the Moscow tradition. Art Theater – Stanislavsky; The role of Chatsky was performed incomparably by Kachalov.
IN satirical comedy A. S. Griboyedov’s “Woe from Wit”, the guests gathered in the house of the master Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov, it was not by chance that they turned out to be heroes with household characteristics. Expanding on the theme of “Famusov: quotation description"And analyzing the image of the owner of the house Famusov, it is worth noting that practically every word he uttered speaks in defense of the "age of fear and humility." He loves to teach young people and wants them to follow the example of the older generation, which has always preferred flattery and sycophancy. These qualities, according to him, always helped to move up the career ladder, and therefore to get rich, and there was no need to wish for more.
Uncle Famusov
He always remembers with great pleasure his late uncle Maxim Petrovich Famusov, whose quotation goes something like this: “I ate either on gold or on silver, but if I had to help myself, I bent over backwards.” For Famusov, he was once an uncle of a rich nobleman who lived during the reign of Catherine the Great. Famusov enthusiastically talks about how Maxim Petrovich used the embarrassment that happened to him at a reception in the empress’s palace to his advantage, playing a funny jester, which gained the favorable attention of Catherine. After which he became the most revered and respected nobleman at court.
For Famusov, the high government rank that he held was not something important, he did not even try to understand the essence of the matter, he signed the papers without reading, as he himself said: “It’s signed, off your shoulders.” Daughter Sophia notes that her father is “grumpy, restless, quick...”.
Uncle Griboyedov
If we study more deeply the topic “Quotation characteristics: “Woe from Wit,” Famusov,” then the prototype of the hero Famusov for the writer Griboedov was his own uncle, Alexey Fedorovich. In his passage “The Character of My Uncle,” the author notes that his uncle’s character literally dominated about 20 years ago. Griboyedov calls this long ago a time of vices and courtesy, believing that on the outside there was chivalry in morals, but in the hearts there was complete emptiness of feelings.
But here the uncle’s resemblance to Famusov is revealed only in a few features - everyday and psychological. There is a lot of typical stuff in Famusov’s image; he identifies with himself large number representatives of the aristocratic Moscow nobility. At that time there were many duels, and many had some kind of passion, for example, to deceive a man at cards, a woman in love, and subordinates often built meanness to their superiors, making promises and not fulfilling them.
The author further explains that, to put it simply, everyone was dishonest in his soul and deceitful in his tongue. And he adds: “It seems that this is not the case today, but perhaps it is.” But he ranks his uncle precisely in that era. He says about him that his uncle could fight like a lion with the Turks under the command of Suvorov, and then in the front palaces of St. Petersburg groveled before random people, and in retirement he lived entirely on gossip.
Famusov is a typical representative of his society
But, as was said earlier, Famusov is not eager to serve, but is more afraid of the accumulation of papers. Developing further the theme of “Famusov: quotation description,” it should be noted that the life of this government official is filled with nothing more than attending various receptions, dinner parties, christenings and name days. And in the service, Famusov surrounds himself with relatives in order to help them climb the career ladder, and it is not so important whether he is an expert in this field or not, the main thing is that he can then “please his loved one” and present him to the order on time.
Famusov: quotation description
Famusov evaluates people by their rank and wealth, and for Sophia he is looking for a suitable person, telling her: “Whoever is poor is not a match for you.” In his opinion, the groom is the one who has at least a couple of thousand souls. And the maid Lisa notices that her father would like a son-in-law with ranks and stars.
In a dispute with Chatsky, Famusov draws his conclusions that “learning is a plague.” He says: “They should take the books and burn them.” Famusov is not interested in a person’s enlightenment; nobility and financial situation, while his opponent Chatsky sharply criticizes the outdated conservative views of Moscow society, which sooner or later will lead to a dead end.
